Engineering Manager

Second Front Systems•Washington, DC

12d•$190,000 - $230,000•Remote

About The Position

Second Front Systems (2F) is seeking an Engineering Manager to lead a team building and scaling Game Warden, its flagship platform for secure software delivery to government environments. The role drives technical execution, mentors engineers, and collaborates across the company to deliver outcomes aligned with 2F’s mission and goals. The Engineering Manager will shape engineering strategy and oversee initiatives that improve the scalability, reliability, and performance of 2F’s core platforms. This includes working with Product, Platform, and Security teams on roadmaps and priorities, providing technical and architectural guidance, and developing engineering talent and processes as the company grows. Candidates must reside in an approved hiring hub: DC/Maryland/Virginia; Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Denver/Colorado Springs, Colorado; or Dallas/Fort Worth/Austin, Texas. The role is full time and offers virtual work near one of these hub locations. U.S. citizenship is required; the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance is preferred. The expected base salary range is $210,000–$230,000. Final compensation depends on experience, skills, level, and geographic location. The role may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and equity grants.

Requirements

At least 6 years of professional software engineering experience, including at least 2 years managing or leading technical teams.
Demonstrated success leading distributed teams in high-growth or startup environments.
Deep understanding of modern software development practices, cloud infrastructure (AWS, Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines.
Strong technical acumen, strategic thinking, and effective communication.
Ability to balance execution, people leadership, and technical excellence.
U.S. citizenship is required.
Must reside in an approved hiring hub: DC/Maryland/Virginia; Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, NC; Denver/Colorado Springs, CO; or Dallas/Fort Worth/Austin, TX.

Nice To Haves

Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
Experience building and scaling SaaS or platform products in highly regulated or security-sensitive industries such as defense, government, or healthcare.
Familiarity with secure software development frameworks such as NIST 800-53, FedRAMP, or SOC 2.
Experience with infrastructure-as-code, observability, and automation frameworks.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives with Product, Security, and Operations.
Strong understanding of agile methodologies and experience driving continuous improvement across teams.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor a distributed engineering team, fostering excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Drive execution of technical initiatives that enhance the scalability, reliability, and performance of 2F’s core platforms.
Partner with Product, Platform, and Security teams to define roadmaps, prioritize work, and deliver against milestones.
Provide technical guidance and architectural oversight, ensuring alignment with best practices and compliance requirements.
Collaborate with stakeholders to translate strategic objectives into actionable engineering plans.
Recruit, onboard, and develop engineering talent aligned with 2F’s mission, values, and culture.
Contribute to the evolution of engineering processes, tooling, and delivery frameworks as the company scales.

Benefits

100% healthcare, vision, and dental coverage.
401(k) with a 3% company contribution.
One Medical membership, mental health resources, and family planning assistance.
Equity incentive plan.
Technology and office supplies stipend.
Annual professional development stipend.
Flexible paid time off and federal holidays off.
Parental leave.
Referral bonus.
Potential discretionary bonuses and equity grants.